The Baffling Nuances Of Diplomacy

April 06, 2001

Diplomacy, it has been said, is to do and say the nastiest thing in the nicest way. Words contain all manner of hidden and not-so-hidden meanings. The nuance of what is said--and how--is parsed endlessly, as is the significance of what is left unspoken.

That was evident Wednesday night on PBS' NewsHour with Jim Lehrer when Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Yang Jiechi made a rare appearance on live American television. He sparred with host Lehrer as to the precise status of the crew of the American surveillance plane forced to make an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island Sunday after colliding with a Chinese fighter jet.

An excerpt of the exchange:

Jim Lehrer: All right. The 24 American crew members--they're essentially prisoners of the Chinese government tonight, are they not?

Yang Jiechi: They're not. They're in China because an investigation is going on and they were on the plane and the plane caused the collision. So there's a right for us to investigate the case, and that's why they're in China.

Jim Lehrer: But are they free to leave?

Yang Jiechi: At the moment, I think the investigation is going on in China and there are questions to be asked.

Jim Lehrer: I mean they're not free to leave?

Yang Jiechi: They're in China.

Jim Lehrer: And they're prisoners, are they not?

Yang Jiechi: They're not prisoners. They're in China because the U.S. airplane caused the incident, the loss of life, Chinese life, a young pilot who has parents, who has a wife and a kid, and if it was some American, I think, you know, I think America would react the same way.

Jim Lehrer: To make sure I understand this, those Americans will remain in Chinese custody until the United States apologizes in a way that is satisfactory to the Chinese government, is that correct?

Yang Jiechi: What I'm saying is that the investigation is going on now, so there are questions to be asked, and that's why they're in China.

Jim Lehrer: Have they been charged with any crime? Is it likely they will be charged with a crime?

Yang Jiechi: I will stick with my statement and just say that, you know, there are things to be examined and questions to be asked.